The banner behind the stage identified Clark College as "The Next Step." Then former Clark College student Garry Presthus talked about where that step can eventually lead. It took him all around the world. The Battle Ground resident, who retired recently after a 32-year career with the World Health Organization, talked about his path Thursday night during his speech at Clark College's 69th commencement ceremony.

Clark Alumnus Steps Out ; Commencement speaker tells graduates circuitous path can still lead to success

Jun 10, 2005

Columbian

[Excerpt]

The banner behind the stage identified Clark College as "The Next Step."

Then former Clark College student Garry Presthus talked about where that step can eventually lead. It took him all around the world.

The Battle Ground resident, who retired recently after a 32-year career with the World Health Organization, talked about his path Thursday night during his speech at Clark College's 69th commencement ceremony.

Almost 1,500 students were saluted for their achievements in two- year academic programs or in professional and technical studies.

Presthus acknowledged that he didn't start out as one of those high achievers. After graduating from Battle Ground High School, where he said he was "less than stellar," Presthus was rejected by the University of Washington.

So for him, Clark College was the next step.

It wasn't exactly a straight path, he told the graduates. He needed eight years to get a bachelor's degree. After his first year at Clark, he spent a year hitchhiking around the world before returning to Clark.

By then, he was ready to go to work academically, and "Clark came to the rescue," Presthus said.

Good teachers and classmates who were serious about education including Denis Hayes, founder of Earth Day reoriented his direction, he said.

Presthus was accepted by the University of Washington and graduated with a degree in political science although, again, it wasn't exactly the express route. He spent another one-year hiatus in France, and also put in two years in the Peace Corps before graduating in 1969.

During his career with the World Health Organization, Presthus was part of the international campaign that helped eliminate smallpox in the 1970s.

He helped WHO respond to an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the Congo.

"More than 100 people died a horrible death. It's a horrible disease, and it's less than 24 hours away" by jetliner, Presthus added, noting that the "global village" concept does have some drawbacks.

Even after retirement, Presthus has come back to help in two major international campaigns. He put in six weeks in Africa during November and December as part of the global push to eradicate polio. And a month later, he volunteered for a trip to Indonesia to help administer tsunami relief.

Presthus was sent to the site of Indonesia's most severe devastation, Banda Aceh.

In an interview earlier this week, Presthus said that the destruction was beyond description.

"You can't imagine several square miles that had previously been occupied, and now is a wasteland," Presthus said. "You can't describe it."

Other speakers included President Wayne Branch, who noted that the 1,500 or so graduates affirm that Clark is a place "where people can change their lives."

When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

The Peace Corps LibraryPeace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today. If you have a web site, support the "Peace Corps Library" and link to it today.

American Taboo: A Peace Corps TragedyReturned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here.

June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti programAfter Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service.

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